Used 2023 Toyota 4Runner

The number four seems to be quite lucky for the 4Runner SUV. It offers the option of 4-wheel drive, naturally. And it’s found more than 4,000,000 buyers during its 40-year existence. A special limited edition commemorating this anniversary will have a run of 4,040 units.

Built on a truck foundation using the time-honored body-on-frame construction method, the 4Runner is tough, capable, and — thanks to being a Toyota — dependable. Exploring the wilderness is all well and good, but let’s not underestimate the joy of getting home afterward.

There are much newer midsize SUVs with more space for third-row passengers, greater refinement, and better fuel economy. But the 2023 4Runner could still warrant a place in any adventurer’s driveway.

Even for a midsize SUV, the driving position in the 2023 4Runner is high. Getting in and out is not as easy as some more car-like SUV/crossovers, but there are optional side steps. And outward vision is generally good.

The body is also on the narrow side. Not exactly a boon on the freeway, but a potential asset on a small dirt road through the forest.

On-road behavior is tolerable. The ride is on the soft side, the steering lacks some precision, the engine can’t be described as eager, and an automatic transmission with only five forward ratios seems like it should be in a museum. But this aspect of the driving experience is merely a way of getting to the 4Runner’s happy place, away from the tarmac.

Mud and snow are handled easily. The 4Runner can even climb rocks — especially with the dedicated tires and suspension of the TRD Pro version.

The SR5, SR5 Premium, and Limited models offer a third seating row for two. Otherwise, the 2023 4Runner midsize SUV has the usual 5-seater setup. Cloth upholstery is standard in the lower trims, giving way to simulated leather and then the real stuff in pricier variants. The 40th Anniversary Special Edition adds bronze-colored contrasting stitching.

The dashboard might have looked up-to-the-minute 13 years ago when this generation of 4Runner launched, but interior design has moved on significantly since then. Nevertheless, it’s functional and bearable, with plenty of large controls that are simple to operate.

It’s also good to see an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a leather-wrapped steering wheel as standard. Every version has an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen controlling a system that includes smartphone integration and Amazon Alexa compatibility.

The rear seats (or second-row seats, if a third row is present) are split in a 40/20/40 configuration. They can split, recline, and fold flat. Legroom in this position is 32.9 inches. Not great. Third-row legroom measures 29.3 inches, meaning it’s OK for kids.

The optional third row splits 50/50 and can also fold flat, so the cargo area is nicely practical. Space ranges from 47.2 cubic feet behind the second row to a maximum of 89.7 cubic feet.

As long as the beholder appreciates things like ground clearance (9.6 inches), approach angles (33 degrees) and departure angles (26 degrees — these figures are for the 4-wheel-drive variants) then the 2023 4Runner SUV might well be considered beautiful in its own special way.

Unsurprisingly, the TRD Pro is the most rugged-looking, with 17-inch alloy wheels wearing all-terrain tires, a model-specific grille, specialized suspension components (from the highly regarded Fox company), and a TRD roof rack. TRD stands for Toyota Racing Development, by the way, but extends its influence beyond the track.

New this year, the 40th Anniversary Special Edition comes in white, Midnight Black Metallic, or Barcelona Red Metallic. The body is also enlivened by a red/orange/yellow graphics package evoking Toyota’s off-road racing machines of the past.

This model also has the heritage grille treatment, where the word Toyota is spelled out in upper-case letters instead of the usual company logo. Plus bronze-finished 17-inch alloy wheels.

1. Four-wheel drive
Buying a 2023 Toyota 4Runner without some form of 4-wheel-drive system — featuring low-range gearing and a transfer case — seems like a wasted opportunity. You’re missing the vehicle’s whole point.

2. Blind-spot monitoring
Along with rear cross-traffic alert, this feature becomes standard across the 2023 4Runner range.

3. Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Although the 4Runner is relatively old in automotive terms, Toyota has at least kept it fairly up to date with things like standard smartphone integration.

4. Multi-terrain Select
The TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro variants come with this terrain response system as standard, enabling drivers to select the right mode for the right conditions. Crawl Control is also included, a kind of slow-speed/off-road cruise control.

5. Sliding cargo floor
The 4Runner’s height can result in tricky loading or unloading, but this optional sliding deck can take 440 pounds and make life much easier. It can also double as a seat while the 4Runner is stationary — at a camp site, for example. It reduces cargo space a little, but may be worth the trade-off.

6. Powered tailgate window
Instead of opening the entire tailgate just to throw something minor into the luggage area, this rear window can open — an unusual feature among midsize SUVs. And if the driver needs to see out the back but the window is all muddy, just drop it down with the touch of a button. This is standard in every 2023 4Runner.

There are no additions like turbochargers or superchargers. The 2023 Toyota 4Runner employs a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V6. It’s hardly stressed, since its output is an easy-going (for such an engine) 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque.

A 5-speed automatic transmission sends that to either the rear wheels in standard form, a part-time 4-wheel-drive system, or a full-time 4-wheel-drive setup (available in the SR5 and TRD Off-Road).

Regular gasoline is fine, although the 2023 4Runner needs quite a bit of it.

4.0-liter V6
270 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
278 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/19 mpg (RWD/4WD)